Don Spence wrote:
I am truly amazed at what you brits call a "Classic". If I am to go
by the contents of popular British magazines, any occasionally self
propelled automotive device( yes, I once owned a non-lamemted Marina)
no longer in production, and preferably achieving the most plebian
level of design and engineering, is a bone fide "Classic". In North
America we are, or at least have been, IMHO, a bit more discerning.
The collector car hobby/business generally recognizes "Classic" as
defined by the Classic Car Club of America.
Well, Don - with the very greatest respect to you (and The Classic Car
Club of America), what you do in your backyard and what you choose to
call it, is your business and it doesn't trouble us one jot. The fact
that the CCCA may have different classifications and names thereto is
of no real concern to us in the UK - and is there any reason why it
should be? You're surely not suggesting we should adopt CCCA age
profiles just because you are at variance with our popular terms and
may disagree with them?
What we have in the UK is a combination of habit and tradition which,
like an old jacket or a comfortable pair of slippers, suits us very
well and is proven to co-exist without too much difficulty. We
understand our terminologies and the periods to which they relate but
if you hold a variable view, then of course that is your prerogative.
Not all cars appeal to all people - but thankfully some cars appeaI to
some people which collectively adds up to 100%. That's why we call
them 'Classics.' They may have had many shortcomings in terms of
appearance, design, reliability and relative longevity - but they are
still part of a past. If an enthusiast aspires to a Marina or thinks
or a dog-bone Escort is the pinnacle of desirability and is prepared
to care for it, enjoy it and prolong its active life, who is anyone to
challenge his or her rationale or the name of the group into which
that vehicle fits? I think the bottom line here is to encourage the
CCCA to keep its classifications within United States territorial
limits on the understanding it doesn't expect us to do the same,
purely for the sake of harmonisation. We're doing rather too much of
that with international politics in the European Union at the moment
and its all a frightful nuisance, rather tiresome and doesn't
currently seem to be achieving anything, except dissent and even more
confusion in all the countries involved.
As they are inclined to say in France, "Vive la difference."
Jonmac
1950 Ferguson TED20 152318
1970 Triumph 2.5PI MG4305DL(O)
1974 Triumph 2000 ML2294DLO
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